Tuesday, 11 April 2017

Exciting Times

I think that I have just about recovered from our amazing trip to Argentina and Chile. More details and pics to follow after we have sorted through the hundreds of images taken !!My birding has been snatched in between the many jobs, errands etc that I have needed to undertake to catch up with what has been happening.It has been great to come back to such lovely weather and see the signs of spring . I have been amazed at how many butterflies are already on the wing, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell are in abundance. The hedgerows are bursting into new growth as well as bursting into song with large numbers of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap.It is also the time when our winter and summer visitors overlap. This morning I was watching Fieldfares and Redwing feeding in the grass field behind the house whilst a Cuckoo was calling nearby and Swallows flying overhead.It was a similar scenario at Harrington Airfield with more Fieldfares and Redwings preparing to leave and 4 Wheatears and a male Ring Ouzel around the bunkers. Other birds included 2+ Brambling, 4 Grey Partridge, Willow Warbler and Swallows.There were also 2 Wheatears in the valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and a Common Redstart this evening.Yesterday I came across 4 Brambling sitting in a hedgerow in the valley below Hanging Houghton.Exciting times as birds are on the move and you just never know what you are going to see.......so ears and eyes wide open !!Regards Eleanor